St. Landry democrat., 1887-08-06
[SpeciaI Correspondence

the PalalS BOURBON seem 10 DC just
now inaugurating most comprehen-
sive levelng process in regard to
the religion professed by the bulk of
the French people, as, indeed, to
religions in general There has been a
hot discussion in the Chamber of Depu
ties concerning a new military law, which
imposes three years service in the army
upon all Frenchmen who have attained
their twentieth year, with qualifications,
however, as to time and conditions of
service in favor of medical students and
pupils at the Polytechnic and normal
schools and others similarly situated.
This new law, it will be seen, differs but
little from the one which has been in
force since 1872, save that, although con-
tanning 100 articles, it makes TO mention
of another special class Of citizens-the
seminarists or ecclesiastical students and
members of this priesthood generally, as
we'll as scnoolmasters, all of whom have
hitherto been exempt from CONSUMPTION.
This important omission was at once
detected, raising, as might be imagined,
vigorous protests from the Clerical Right
in the chamber, and scathing condemna-
ton in che Catholic royalist press. When
the measure came on for discussion Mon
seigneur Treppel, Bishop of Anglers,
mounted the tribune and eloquently ad
vocated an amendment in favor of the
citizens left out in the cold. The canons
of the church Ia reference which pro-
voked much merriment amongst the
Radicals) forbid priest to carry arms
or shed blood, except in self-defense. 1t
had been said that Pope Julius I and
Cardinal Richelieu had commanded
armies, the one as temporal sovereign,
the other as minister of wa4, but neither
ever used arms Or shed any mans blood.
The priests duty is to preach peace,
charity and the forgiveness of sins, to be
prayerful and kindly, and therefore his
ministry is utterly at variance with the
profession of arms. In Austria, Ger
many, Spain and Portugal the clergy are
exempt; in Switzerland they simply act
as army chaplains, while during the
civil war in America they were never
subjected to military service. Moreover,
the seminarists were not of much i'm
portance in the army, numbering only
some 1900 annually, whilst financial and
similar considerations prevented the en-
rollment of $4,000, 10000 or 10000 ordi-
nary citizens every year. Even Napoleon
himself, though often sorely in need of
soldiers, never sought to impress the
seminarists. The clergy were ready to
pay their debt to their country, but they
would pay it voluntarily, because for
them, as indeed for all the Catholics of
France, there was but one motto: Dieu
ct PatrSe.
This speech elected reply from NJ.
Hanotaux, followed by a powerful ha-
rangue on the clerical side, by M. de la
Martiniere, deputy for the Manche, who
pleaded exemption for schoolmasters
and missionaries. Lastly, NJ. Rouvier,
president Of the council, representing the
government, insisted that compulsory
service must be compulsory for all.
There was no sectarian animus on the
part of the government, no desire to
persecute or unwarrantably interfere
with any particular vocation or class of
persons. As result the Martiniere
amendment was defeated by 394 votes to
172, whilst another by NJ. Laurenson, in
favor of placing theological students in
the hospital and ambulance service
in war time, also fell to the
ground. Seminarists and teachers
will therefore perform military SER
vice precisely as other citizens.
The anti-German agitation marches
with vigor in the ranks of the people,
led by Radical organs like the France and
h1t ho
serious portion of the press uniformly
condemns noisy manifestations like the
one held the other evening at the Cirque
oliver, when NJ. Sansb9uf, president,
and NJ. Henri Deloncle, delegate of the
Patriotic League, and NJ Paul Deroulede
delivered passionate harangues, glorify-
ing as martyrs Kechlin-C landon and
Charles Blech, the two Alsatians re-
Gently arrested by the Germans as spies.
The high Court of Leipsic, which SEN
fenced them to two years imprisonment
in fortress, ostensibly because they be-
longed to the league, was denounced in
the strongest terms, and the meeting dis
persed singing the popular song:
Boulanger is the man who can do it,
All! a-a-h! a-a-a-h!
Three more Alsatians are now being
tried at Leipsic On the more serious charge |
of furnishing plans of Notifications to the !
French government, whilst several
youths have been punished more or less
severely for uttering "seditious cries."
such as give la France" &C., and
young girl finds that German justice will !
not permit her to wear a tri-colored !
apron on German territory. These Ora
CONAN acts of the conqueror are all
duly treasured up in the French memory
against the GLORIOUS day of revenge"
which may dawn at any moment accord
ing to all appearances. In the canton of
Obernai (Haut-Rhin), out of 142 con-
scripts who should have answered to
the roll for service in the German army,
seventy-one have fled and enlisted in /
the French foreign legion.
may mention here that fifteen wears
of hatred and distrust of the sons of the
fatherland, many of whom come into
France and undersell the natives to a
yexatious extent, has produced occa-
sional outbursts of indignation against
foreigners generally. The latest indica-
ton of this feeling-though but a
passing one-is proposal submitted |
to the chamber that the French |
should tax the stranger within their
gates. Italian professors are OBJ |